China-firing apparatus



S. S. FRAOKELTON.

CHINA FIRING APPARATUs.

(No Model.)

atented Sept. 28, 1886.

Wknasasa:

N. PEYERS. mm-ulmwhcr. wnhington, n. c?

NITED SUSAN S. FRAOKELTON, OF MILXVAUKEE, VISOONSIN.

CHINA-FIRING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 349,935, dated September 28, 1886.

Application filed June 1, 1886. Serial No. $103,735.

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Susan S. FRAOKELTON, of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and in the State of \Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in China- Firing Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to an apparatus for firing decorated china, and has for its objects to obtain the best possible results in that art with the least outlay of time, labor, and expense.

A further object of my invention is to provide a china-firing apparatus that may be successfully and economically employed by individuals other than specialists in the peculiar art to which it pertains.

My invention, therefore, consists in certain peculiarities of construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which is represented a sectional view of my apparatus.

Referring by letter to the drawing, A represents a ring of suitable dimensions integral with or connected to legs B, thus forming a stand for the support of my china-firing apparatus.

Designed to rest within the ring A is the body portion 0 of an outer shell that has a removable top, 0, both these parts being preferably composed of cast metal and provided with a lining, D, of fire-clay or other suitable refractory material, said material being trued by a mold, so as to have a uniform thickness throughout said shell. The lower part of the shell-body Cis preferably cup-shaped and provided with an opening of suitable dimensions in its bottom.

Vertically extended in an upward direction from the sides of the bottom opening in the shell-body C is a continuous flange, b, and extended from the upper edge of this shell-body is a continuous horizontal flange, c, that is equal in width to the vertical one, I), these flanges serving to determine the thickness and confine the lining D of this shell-body, said lining being applied in a plastic state. The removable top 0 of the shell is preferably vough combustion.

(No model.)

dome-shaped and provided with continuous vertical and horizontal flanges d e, the one d being upwardly-extended to form a flue, F, and the one 6 designed to rest upon the corresponding one, o, of the body portion C of said shell. The dome-shaped top 0 is also provided with an opening, f, from the edges of which is inwardly extended a continuous conical flange, 9, having a width equal to the ones (I e, and these several flanges serve the same purpose as the ones b c in the body portion 0 of the shell. The lower outer edge of the top 0 is provided with a bead,h, that is vertically depended for about one-half its width, and has the inner face of this depending portion in conformity to the body portion 0 of the shell, so as to come over around the latter to form a tightjoint when the two parts are united, this construction serving to retain the heat in said shell.

The opening in the bottom of the shell-body is designed to fit snugly over the burner of a gas-stove, G, or other suitable heat-generating apparatus, so as to exclude the outside air at this point, sufficient air being drawn up through the heating apparatus to insure thor- The flue F, that forms part of the domeshaped top. 0, is connected with an escapepipe, H, that carries off the smoke and other products of combustion from the heat-generating apparatus, said pipe being provided with the usual damper, I. The body portion C of the shell is internally provided with lugs t, that extend through the refractory lining D, and are cut away to form seats for lugs it upon the exterior body part K of a china-containing receptacle, the latter being preferably composed of cast metal, and provided with a removable dome-shaped cover, L, that has a bead, m, around its lower edge similar to the one h on the top 0 of the shell-body O, and this bead mfits around upon an annular shoulder, a, at the top of said part K, to form a tight joint, this construction serving to exclude the products of combustion from and retain the heat in said receptacle.

The cover L of the receptacle Kis provided with a hollow conical extension, 12, that passes through the openingf of the shell-top 0, this extension serving as a peep hole through which to observe thecontents of said recepta-. cle during the process of firing.

Seated in the lower part of the receptacle K is a removable perforated plate, M, of any suitable dimensions, this plate serving to support small articles of china to be fired, and the space r below said plate may also be utilized for containing a small article or articles of such ware.

At any desirable point upon the interior of the receptacleK are located lugs s, that serve to support miniature grates N, on which are placed the larger pieces of china to be fired.

The diameter of the respective parts composing the outer shell is considerably greater than that of the corresponding parts of the china-containing receptacle, and thus an airspace, t, is formed that entirely surrounds said receptacle. It will be noticed that the air space t has its greatest area-between thelower endsof the parts 0 K, to insure thorough combustion at this point, and that the end a of said part K extends down into the flame from the heat-generating apparatus G, this latter serving to cause an equal diffusion of heat, for the reason that the lining D is of equal thick; ness throughout, while 'the china-receptacle is hung so that its vertical center is in line with that of the shell, and the flame being equally divided by the end a prior to its entrance into the air-space, is caused to uniform ly ascend up around all sides of said receptaole, the latter being substantially of conical form, as is also the interior of the shell.. The bead m on the cover L projects into the airspace and serves to retard the heat, and thereby prevent its toorapid escape with the other products of combustion through the flue F, and it has been found in practice that, by the peculiar construction and arrangement of parts above described, said heat is uniform through-v out the entire apparatus, thereby insuring the perfect firing of china regardless of its location in the inner receptacle, asfrequently in charging said receptacle the china comes above the top of the body partK to such a height as to fill the space formed by thedome-shaped cover L.

When the apparatus is first fired, the peephole 19 is left open to allow the, escape of steam generated from the moisture in the material composing the articles to'be burned, and the pigmentsthat are employed thereon for decora-, tive purposes, and after this steam has ceased to escape, said hole is plugged up to retain the heat, the latter being usually increased at this time.

The apparatus being. extremely simple in construction, can be manufactured at comparatively small cost, of various sizes, and as ordinarily constructed is designed to be portable, so as the same can be readily set away the fact that it not only does away with the dirt and care incident to the ordinary devices for firing china, but at the same time dispenses with the services of a professional fireman, thereby reducing the cost of this class of work to a minimum, and securing the best possible results attainable in the art.

Having thusfully described'my invention,

having a less diameter throughout than the interior. of the shell, whereby a continuous airspace is left between said parts, and a detachable heat-generating apparatus having a tight connection with the bottom opening in the shell, substantially as and for thepurposeset.

forth.

2; In a china-firing apparatus, the combination of a suitablysuspended outer shell having its body portion and removable top composed of cast metal lined with fire-clay or other heatrefracting material, the former part having an inlet and the latter an outlet opening,fa castmetal receptacle for china suspended within the shell and having a less diameter throughout than the interior of said shell, whereby a continuous air-space is left between the parts, and a heat generating apparatus having a tight connection with the inlet at the bottom of the shell-body, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a china-firing apparatus, the combination of a suitably-suspended outer shell having its body portion and removable top composed of cast metal, the former part having a vertical upwardly-extended flanged opening in its bottom, and a horizontal inwardly-extended flange at its upper edge, and the top part provided with a central vertical flue extended down inside to form a flange, and the lower edge of this part inwardly extended to form a horizontal flange corresponding to the one 011 said former part, a lining of heat-refracting material held between and of a thickness equal to the width of the several flanges, a receptacle 'for china suspended within the shell, and having a less diameter throughout than the interior of said shell, and a heat-generating apparatus having a tight connection with the inlet at the bottom of the shell-body, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a china-firing apparatus, thecombination of a suitably-suspended heat-refracting shell having anopening in its top and bottom, respectively, and said top provided at its lower edge with a vertically-depending flange that comes over around the upper part of the body portion, a sectional cast-metal receptacle for the china suspended within the shell and of a less diameter throughout than the interior of the latter, and thetop section of this receptacle provided with a bead around its lower edge that partially obstructs the "space between said receptacle and shell, and

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a heatgenerating apparatus having a tight connection with the bottom opening in the shell, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a china-firing apparatus, the combination of a suitably-suspendedheat-refracting shell having an opening in its top and bottom, respectively, an inner receptacle for the china that terminates in a point at its bottom and is of less diameter throughout than the interior of the shell to leave a continuous air-space that has its greatest area between the lower ends of said parts, and adetaehable heat-generating apparatus having a tight connection with the bottom opening of the shell, substantially as set forth.

6. In a china'firing apparatus, the combination of a suitably-suspended heat-refracting shell of substantially conical form upon its interior, and provided with a top and bottom opening, an inner receptacle for the china of a form similar to that of the interior of said shell but of less diameter throughout, whereby a continuous air-space is left between said parts, and a detachable heatgenerating apparatns having a tight connection with the bottom opening of the shell, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a china-firing apparatus, the combination of a suspended sectional cast-metal shell having a lining of refractory material, an opening in its top and bottom and lugs that project through the lining, a sectional castmetal receptacle having lugs upon its body portion that rest upon the lugs of the shell and is of less diameter throughout than the interior of the latter, whereby an air-space is formed between said parts, the top section of this receptacle provided with a hollow conical extension extended through a corresponding opening in the top of the shell, and its body portion internally provided with lugs and removable grates supported by said lugs, and a heat-generating apparatus having a tight connection with the bottom opening of the shell, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a china-firing apparatus, the combina tion of a sectional heat-refracting shell having a cup-shaped bottom and dome-shaped top, each provided with a vertical opening, and the interior body portion of this shell provided with a series of lugs, a cast-metal sectional receptacle for the china similar in contour to the former part but of less diameter throughout than the interior thereof, the body portion of this receptacle provided upon its exterior with a series of lugs that rest on those of the shell and upon its interior with another series of lugs, grates supported upon these latter lugs and a removable perforated plate, and the top section of said receptacle provided with a projecting bead or flange around its lower edge and a conical hollow extension that passes through a corresponding opening in the shell top, a heat-generating apparatus having a tight connection with the bottom opening in the shell, and a supporting-frame comprising an open seat for said shell, and suitable legs secured at their upper ends to the seat, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand, at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, in the presence of two witnesses.

SUSAN S. FRAGKELTON.

Witnesses:

H. G. UNnERwooD, EDWIN H. GOODRIOH. 

